Where are you from?
I am from Evergreen, Colorado.
What Brought you to CSU?
CSU is absolutely a family school for me. I am a third generation ram – my grandfather, both my parents, and both my sisters went to CSU – so it’s really just in my blood!
Tell us about your undergraduate career. What are you studying, and why?
When I came to CSU as a freshman, I started out as a Communication Studies student with the idea that if I liked it, that’s great, but if I didn’t, I was basically shopping for majors. Luckily for me, I fell in love with the Communication Studies Department and loved my classes and eventually added a Film Studies minor, then a second major in Journalism and Media Communication after I started working at the radio station.
What’s your radio job like?
I have the pleasure of being the Station Manager at KCSU this year. I have been at KCSU since my first semester at CSU and have loved every second of it! I heard about it in my JTC100 class and started as a reporter for the Quite Honestly News Show and ended up getting a music show by the end of my second semester. My sophomore year, I continued reporting and DJing. My junior year, I got on staff as the new Web Content Editor and then have been serving as the Station Manager this year. As Station Manager, I am in charge of overseeing the operations of the station. So, I directly manage about 15 paid staff, and 60 or so volunteers indirectly. I answer a lot of email and help out in various departments when needed. I also work with the other student media heads in Rocky Mountain Student Media to collaborate on various projects.
How are you involved in the ACT Film Festival?
I am working on the operations side of things as a Festival Operations Coordinator. My primary responsibility at this point is in relation to volunteer coordination, so I’m responsible for setting up volunteer sign-ups, recruitment, orientations and training, as well as some coordination during the event itself. I have also been helping out with coordinating the set-up for certain elements of the festival like finding photographers and ASL interpreters for certain films.
What excites you about the film fest?
This project is exciting for a few reasons. First, the idea that CSU is hosting a film festival is great, especially with a focus on human rights. I am pursuing a minor in Film Studies and am also taking Dr. Karrin Anderson’s Anti-Human Trafficking class, so the timing of this is really interesting for me because it’s bringing together a lot of topics that I’m really intrigued with. On top of that, I’m really excited to get some experience in being involved with planning an event of this scale.
What is the best advice you have to offer others?
Honestly, the most important thing I’ve learned as a student is how to think. I think through all of my varying coursework and extracurriculars, and even in my social life I’ve learned to think critically and holistically. My best advice to give other students would be to take advantage of the vast resources available to you both on campus and in this community to expose yourself to people, viewpoints, food, appearances, identities, things you’ve never experienced before.
What are your future plans?
My future plans are to work in public radio. Not sure where yet, but the dream is a long-form public affairs program.
What do you like to do for fun?
For fun, I listen to a lot of music and make it to concerts when I can. The genres I’ve been listening to most right now are soul and R&B, as well as some indie alternative stuff. I tend to have a pretty eclectic taste. I’m a huge movie buff, so watching movies is always great. I also enjoy typical Colorado things like hiking and skiing, and I also really love to knit.
What is your favorite spring/summertime activity around Fort Collins?
My favorite summertime activity in Fort Collins has to be spending time at the Trial Garden over at the UCA. Just reading a book over there is great.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
My great-grandfather, who lived to be 107, founded Rockmount Ranch Wear, which is a western wear company in Colorado and he invented snap shirts.